Flexible cosmetic brushes and/or applicators

ABSTRACT

An embodiment of a cosmetic brush or other applicator comprises a head, a handle, and a resiliently flexible section connecting the head to the handle. The resiliently flexible section may be a coil spring the ends of which are held in two ferrules attached to the head and to the handle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/011,941, filed Jan. 23, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The application of makeup requires the even distribution of cosmetics. To obtain a natural-looking application, while achieving the desired enhanced appearance of the wearer's eyes, cheek or face, the cosmetics are often applied using a variety of cosmetic brushes or applicators, each having a specific cosmetic application. Makeup can also be used to camouflage or hide certain undesired colors, blemishes, birthmarks, scars, or disfigurations on the face. It is also desirable that each brush have a handle of sufficient length to permit easy application of the cosmetics.

Cosmetics are often applied to the face by a brush or other applicator. Cosmetic brushes comprise a variety of sizes and shapes, wherein each brush is designed for a specific application or area of the face. A plurality of brushes can provide additional enhancement and definition to a specific area. For example, to enhance and accentuate the natural shape of the eyes, some individuals prefer to use different brushes that would define, contour and blend the applied makeup. Thus, the use of two or three different cosmetic brushes, appropriately sized for the selected area of the face, are useful to optimize the application and blending of the makeup. Because the bristles of cosmetic brushes are flexible, they move across the natural contours of the face enabling definition, contouring, blending, camouflaging and the addition of structure to the face by highlighting and shadowing certain features. For example, various types of applicators are used to apply blush to the cheek area, eye shadow to the eye area and camouflage or concealer to other areas of the face. As a result, conventionally one would typically use several brushes to obtain the desired results.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,927,281; 5,063,947; 5,165,760; 5,482,059 and many others describe brushes and processes for making brushes for applying a cosmetic product, in which a plurality of bristles transversely implanted in a core. For example, one type of brush generally comprises a core formed by two or more branches of a metal wire twisted into a helix. The bristles extend in the turns formed by the twisted branches. The tips of the bristles define a generally cylindrical outer surface having two diametrically opposed channels and application surfaces helically disposed along the length of the brush portion. The bristle portion, trimmed to desired shape, permits penetration of the eyelashes or hair.

In the alternative, cosmetic brushes are more like artist brushes, comprising a head of hairs, bristles or fibers enclosed by a metal or plastic ferrule. At the other end of the ferrule is attached a handle. The handle and the bristles of the brush are secured within the opposing ends of the ferrule by crimping and/or by an adhesive, such as glue. Metal ferrules of this type are known to be made of a variety of materials ranging from brass to light weight and inexpensive materials, such as aluminum. Advantageously such light weight materials are easily formed and pressed into place, and they are not corrosive or affected by the cosmetics used on the brushes. However, aluminum lacks the heft of brass for this purpose, and to avoid giving the appearance of being inexpensive a weight of steel, lead, or other inexpensive but heavy material may be included inside the ferrule, in the space left between the bristles and the handle affixed thereto. This added weight in the ferrule improves the balance, stability or heft of the brush when in the hand of the user.

Similarly cosmetic applicators, such as set forth, for example, by Kepka in U.S. Pat. No. 6,974,513 or U.S. Publ. Appl. 2003/0217759 that involve a predetermined pattern of flocking bristles are dispensed toward the applicator, may also include a ferrule type connector. See also a variety of inventions by Gueret, assigned to L′Oreal S. A., including U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,866,046; 6,669,389; 6,591,842; 6,546,937 and U.S. Publ. Appls. 2005/0031401; 2004/0018037; 2001/0037815 and others, wherein a plurality of rows of teeth are provided at multiple positions about the axis of the support, and may be configured as a brush.

When tools, such as cosmetic brushes or other applicators, are in use, they are typically applied to the face or other skin surface of the user or subject with a certain amount of pressure. When the pressure is, or includes a vector component, sideways relative to the length of the brush, the bristles typically deflect sideways, so that the bristles lie more nearly parallel to the skin surface than the handle. However, if the bristles are too soft, they do not apply the cosmetic satisfactorily. If the bristles are too stiff, they remain too nearly parallel to the length of the brush, and (depending on how the individual user holds the brush) at too steep an angle to the skin surface. It has been found that, for at least some users with at least some brushes or other applicators, these two constraints conflict, and an entirely satisfactory brush or applicator, and an entirely satisfactory cosmetic-applying experience, are not available.

Thus, it is apparent that there has been, prior to the present invention, an unfulfilled need for an improved cosmetic brush or applicator that has more flexibility than is afforded by the natural flexibility or softness of the bristles or other material of which the head is made.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to cosmetic brushes and other applicators, and sets of brushes or other applicators, that substantially eliminates or materially reduce disadvantages of the prior art.

An object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a brush or other applicator, comprising a head, a handle, and a flexible section connecting the head to the handle.

In an embodiment, the brush or other applicator may comprise a first ferrule connecting the bristles or other head structure to the flexible section, and a second ferrule connecting the flexible section to the handle.

In an embodiment, the flexible section may be resiliently flexible, for example, a coil spring. A coil spring can flex sideways by the turns of the coil opening on one side and resting against one another on the other side. It is preferred that, in a resting state, the turns of the spring are closed against one another. This both improves the esthetic appearance of the brush or other applicator, and ensures that it is not too floppy. In addition, by pre-stressing the spring, the applicator may be set so that the spring does not begin to flex until a certain level of sideways force is exerted. However, if an applicator that is resiliently compressible lengthways is desired, then the coils could be open in the resting state, to allow for such compression. The mechanics of coil springs are very well understood, and a manufacturer of such springs can easily provide springs with any desired properties within the ranges appropriate for the present invention.

In an embodiment, the ends of the coil spring may be fitted inside the first and second ferrules. This construction has the advantages of being simple and robust. The coil spring may then be secured in place by an in-turned lip at the free ends of the first and second ferrules. For esthetic reasons, the coil spring and the two ferrules may be made of, or finished with materials having the same or closely matched appearances. The choice of finishes for the spring may be more restricted, because any finish applied to the spring should survive the flexing of the underlying spring, and because any finishing process should not adversely affect the temper of the material of the spring. Therefore, once the material for the springs has been chosen, the finish for the ferrules may be chosen to match the appearance of the springs. An exact match is not always necessary. For example, stainless steel springs and a silvery satin-finished aluminum ferrules have been found to produce an esthetically satisfactory combination.

When several applicators are provided as a set, it may be preferred to select the springs so that a similar sideways force applied to the tip of each applicator causes a similar amount of deflection, or so that there is a desired progression as the length and/or width of the applicator head varies. In that case, brushes with wider ferrules may have springs with a softer spring rate as measured in extension, to compensate for the extra leverage in bending arising from the diameter of the spring. Similarly, applicators with a longer tip may have stiffer springs. For esthetic reasons, wider brushes may have longer springs (though not usually longer in direct proportion to their diameter), and the longer springs may then be made stiffer than the shorter springs. Where flexibility is desired functionally for only some applicators in the set, the remaining applicators may be fitted with springs of similar appearance but with a spring rate so stiff that no appreciable flexing occurs in normal use.

The flexible applicator allows the angle of the applicator head relative to the handle to change as pressure is applied in a way that can be selected simply by selecting the mechanical properties of the spring or other flexible section. By suitable selection, both the experience of applying cosmetics and the results achieved can be improved. A further advantage of the flexible applicator in some applications, for example, when applying eye-liner, the flexible section allows the brush head to track the edge of the eye, reducing the effect of any unsteadiness in the hand of the user.

As an example of suitable spring forces, a sideways force of several ounces (a few Newton) at the tip of the brush may produce a deflection of a few tens of degrees in the most flexible brush of the set.

Additional features, objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. However, the detailed description accompanying each Figure is not intended to limit the scope of the claims appended hereto

FIG. 1 is a front view of a first cosmetic brush in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the cosmetic brush shown in FIG. 1, with a handle omitted.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a first ferrule forming part of the cosmetic brush shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a spring forming part of the cosmetic brush shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a second ferrule forming part of the cosmetic brush shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a handle forming part of the cosmetic brush shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a front view, similar to FIG. 1, of a second cosmetic applicator in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a front view, similar to FIG. 1, of a third cosmetic brush in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a front view, similar to FIG. 1, of a fourth cosmetic brush in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Like elements have the same numbers throughout the several views. However, techniques, systems and operating structures in accordance with the present invention may be embodied in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, forms and modes, some of which may be quite different from those in the disclosed embodiment. Consequently, the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative; yet in that regard, they provide a basis for the claims herein which define the scope of the present invention. Although the illustrated embodiments are merely exemplary of systems for carrying out the present invention, both the organization and method of operation of the invention, in general, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, may be more easily understood by reference to the drawings and the following description.

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIG. 1, a first form of cosmetic applicator, in the form of a brush indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, may be of any size, shape or material without limitation. By way of example, cosmetic brush 10 has a head 12, comprising hairs, bristles or fibers, received in a first ferrule 14 (see also FIG. 3). The first ferrule 14 receives one end of a spring 16 (see also FIG. 4). The spring 16 is joined by a second ferrule 18 (see also FIG. 5) to one end of a handle 20 (see also FIG. 6).

The handle 20 is generally linear and cylindrical in shape, having a round, oval, square or other suitable cross section, and may be uniform along a major part of its length. Alternatively, the handle 20 may vary in cross section along its length, or may be of a cross sectional shape other than the aforementioned, or both. For example, many handles 20 for cosmetic brushes taper from the ferrule 18 to a free end 22. Moreover, for example, some cosmetic brush handles 20 are flattened in cross section. As shown in FIG. 6, the handle 20 has at the end opposite the free end 22 a substantially cylindrical stub 24 that is received inside the second ferrule 18.

The second ferrule 18 may be a force-fit on the stub 24, or may be glued onto the stub 24, or both. Other methods of securing the second ferrule 18 onto the stub 24, including methods known in this and related arts, may be used instead, or in addition. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, the second ferrule 18 is generally cylindrical, and is a close fit on the stub 24. The part of the handle 20 immediately adjacent to the stub 24 is sized so that the outside of the handle 20 is flush with the outside of the second ferrule 18.

The head 12 may be substantially circular in cross section or may be flattened as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and may or may not become wider or narrower from the first ferrule 14 towards a tip 26. The shape of the head 12, including the tip 26, is dictated by its intended purpose, and may vary. When a set of cosmetic brushes 10 is provided, the different brushes in the set may be the same or of different shapes and sizes, and often have differently shaped tips 26.

The bristles forming head 12 can all be the same length, such that the tip portion of brush 10 is substantially flat along its tip 26. Alternatively, the bristles vary in length, such that the tip 26 of brush 10 is curved, is angled, comes to a point, or has a leading edge which then angles back to the shortest point of the bristles of the brush, or maintains a substantially curved shape to conform to the contours of the eye, cheek or any area on the face, or is another desired shape. In further alternative embodiments, adjacent bristles may vary greatly in length. This gives the tuft a softer feel to the skin, and allows for smoother application of the cosmetic across the contour of the face.

The first ferrule 14 may have a front end 30 that is shaped and sized to fit closely over a rear end 28 of the head 12, and a rear end 32 that is circular and of the same diameter as the second ferrule 18. For example, if the head 12 is circular in cross-section and of the same size as the handle 20, the first ferrule 14 may be similarly circular in cross-section. If the head 12 has a flattened cross-section, the first ferrule 14 may be correspondingly flattened in cross-section at the front end 30, tapering to the circular rear end 32. Such an adaptation of the ferrule to the shape of the components would be known to one skilled in the art. The head 12 may be secured to the first ferrule 14 in any suitable way, for example, by adhesively bonding the bristles of the head 12 to each other and to a sleeve that is adhesively bonded or clamped within the first ferrule 14.

Preferably, the first ferrule 14 and the second ferrule 18 are made of metal, although a suitable, plastic or other polymer may be used. Common metals for such purpose, include tin, nickel, aluminum, brass or an alloy thereof. Often for economy purposes the first and second ferrules 14, 18 are made of a soft, readily available, light-weight metal, such as aluminum, although the ferrules 14, 18 must be sufficiently strong and rigid to support the forces exerted in use, which may limit the minimum thickness of the aluminum. The aluminum may be either bare or coated with a decorative covering, such as paint, varnish or other suitable material that adheres to the first and second ferrules 14, 18.

The spring 16 is a cylindrical coil spring, with its coils closed in a resting state (in which no external force acts on the spring). The external diameter of the coil spring 16 in the resting state is approximately equal to the internal diameter of the second ferrule 18 and of the rear end 32 of the first ferrule 14. The external diameter of the coil spring 16 in a relaxed configuration may be slightly larger than the mentioned internal diameter of the ferrules 14, 18, so that there is an interference fit retaining the coil spring 16 in place within the ferrules. In addition, the rear end 32 of the first ferrule 14 and the front end of the second ferrule 18 are turned in to form a lip that overlaps the coils of the spring 16, holding the spring 16 inside the ferrules. It is not necessary for the spring 16 to extend very far into the ferrules 14, 18. However, it is preferred for more than one complete turn of the spring 16 to be inside the ferrules, so that there is a complete turn for the in-turned lips of the ferrules to engage with.

Referring now to FIG. 7 of the drawings, the second form of applicator, indicated generally by the reference numeral 40, is generally similar to the first brush 10. However, the head 42 of the applicator 40 is shown in FIG. 7 as an eyebrow/mascara brush whereas the head 12 of the brush 10 is shown as a foundation brush. Because the mascara applicator head 42 consists of bristles projecting sideways from a central twisted wire core, the second form of applicator 40 can be narrower than the first form of brush 10, with the first ferrule 14 of the second form of brush tapering almost to a point.

Referring now to FIG. 8 of the drawings, the third form of applicator is in the form of a brush indicated generally by the reference numeral 50, generally similar to the second form of applicator 40. However, the head 52 of the brush 50 is shown in FIG. 8 as an eyebrow brush with a small, flat head 52 having a straight, slanting tip.

Referring now to FIG. 9 of the drawings, the fourth form of applicator is in the form of a brush indicated generally by the reference numeral 60, generally similar to the first form of applicator 10. However, the spring 16 of the brush 60 is covered by a flexible sleeve 62 that overlaps part or all of the ferrules 14 and 18. As shown in FIG. 9, the sleeve 62 covers the whole of ferrule 18 and part of ferrule 14, but other configurations are possible. The sleeve 62 may be of natural or synthetic rubber or other elastomeric material. The sleeve 62 may, in an unstretched condition, be a tube slightly narrower than the outside dimensions of ferrules 14 and 18, so that when installed as shown in FIG. 9 the sleeve is slightly stretched, and is held in place by its own tension. Alternatively, an adhesive may be used. The sleeve 62 conceals the spring 16, which may be considered aesthetically preferable in some situations and/or by some people. The sleeve 62 may prevent hair or other things from becoming caught in the coils of spring 16. The sleeve 16 may have sufficient stiffness to affect the flexibility of the brush 60, which may permit or require a softer spring 16.

As an example of suitable dimensions for cosmetic brushes, the brushes or applicators 10, 40, 50 may all be around 150 mm (6″) long excluding the heads 12, 42, 52. The head 12 of the foundation brush 10 may be about 30 mm (1.2″) long, and about 9 mm×16 mm. (0.35″×0.625″) across at the base. The rear end 32 of the first ferrule 14 and the second ferrule 18 may be about 12 mm (0.5″) in diameter, and the walls of the ferrules may be about 0.35 mm (0.014″) thick. The spring 16 may be from about 14 mm (0.55″) to about 18 mm (0.8″) long, with about 8 mm (0.3″) exposed between the two ferrules 14, 18. The spring 16 may be wound from wire about 1.5 mm (0.06″) thick. The spring 16 may have an elastic modulus of about 10 N. The spring 16 may deflect a few tens of degrees under a sideways force of a few ounces (about 1 N) near the tip. The spring 16 may deflect about as much as the bases of the bristles of the head 12 under a sideways force applied at the middle of the head 12. The spring rate and pre-tension of the spring 16 may vary considerably depending on the intended use of a specific brush, and on the preferences of the individual user or subject.

The head 42 of the mascara applicator 40 may be about 25 mm (1″) long. The head 52 of the eyebrow brush 50 may be about 7 mm (0.275″) long, and about 2.5 mm×4.5 mm (0.1″×0.175″) across at the base. The springs 16 of the mascara brush 40 and the eyebrow brush 50 may be about 13 mm (0.5″) long, with 5 mm (0.2″) exposed between the two ferrules 14, 18, and about 6 mm (0.25″) in diameter. The other dimensions may be in proportion. Where the brushes 10, 40, 50 form a set, the set may also include other brushes and/or applicators. The sizes and shapes of the heads of such other brushes and/or applicators may be determined by their respective intended functions, and the other dimensions, in particular the dimensions and rate of the spring 16, may be proportionate.

The disclosures of each patent, patent application and publication cited or described in this document are hereby incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety.

While the foregoing specification has been described with regard to certain preferred embodiments, and many details have been set forth for the purpose of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, that the invention may be subject to various modifications and additional embodiments, and that certain of the details described herein can be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of the invention. Such modifications and additional embodiments are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

For example, the second ferrule 18 has been shown as circular and cylindrical, aligning with a handle 20 of circular cross-section. If the handle 20 is not of circular cross section, then second ferrule 18 may be shaped similarly to the first ferrule 14 in FIG. 1, widening in one direction and/or narrowing in the perpendicular direction to provide a transition between the circular spring 16 and the non-circular handle 20.

Although the spring 16 has been described as being circular, springs of other shapes may be used for either esthetic or functional effect. A spring 16 that is not circular will usually flex more easily in the plane of its narrowest width, and can thus produce a brush that flexes more easily in one direction than in another direction. If the non-circular spring 16 is of a different shape from the head or the handle, then the first ferrule 14 or the second ferrule 18, respectively, may be of a corresponding transitional shape.

Although specific embodiments have been described, the skilled person will understand how features of different embodiments may be combined. For example, the sleeve 62 shown in FIG. 9 may be applied to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. 

1. A cosmetic applicator comprising: a head; a handle; and a flexible section connecting the head to the handle.
 2. A cosmetic applicator according to claim 1, comprising a first ferrule connecting the head to the flexible section, and a second ferrule connecting the flexible section to the handle.
 3. A cosmetic applicator according to claim 1, wherein the flexible section comprises a coil spring.
 4. A cosmetic applicator according to claim 3, wherein the coil spring comprises turns that in a resting state are closed against one another.
 5. A cosmetic applicator according to claim 4, wherein the coil spring is pre-stressed such that the turns of the spring do not begin to separate until a preset force is applied.
 6. A cosmetic applicator according to claim 3, wherein the coil spring comprises turns that in a resting state are open apart from one another.
 7. A cosmetic applicator according to claim 3, wherein the flexible section comprises a flexible sleeve overlying the coil spring.
 8. A cosmetic applicator according to claim 2, wherein the flexible section is a coil spring the ends of which are fitted inside the first and second ferrules.
 9. A cosmetic applicator according to claim 1, which is a brush.
 10. A cosmetic applicator set, comprising a plurality of cosmetic applicators having a head, a handle, and a resiliently flexible section connecting the head to the handle.
 11. A cosmetic applicator set according to claim 10, wherein a plurality of said cosmetic applicators have their respective resiliently flexible sections selected so that a similar sideways force applied to the tip of each said applicator causes a similar amount of deflection.
 12. A cosmetic applicator set according to claim 10, wherein a plurality of said cosmetic applicators have their respective resiliently flexible sections selected so that there is a progression in the amount of deflection caused by the same force applied to the tip of each said applicator as the dimensions of the respective brush head vary. 